Film Review – American Summer

“American Summer” intends to stir up feelings of nostalgia for times gone by. Co-writer/director Michael W. Gray is out to inspect the adolescent experience as it used to be, focusing on the struggles of a teenager fighting to make sense of his opportunities and future while dealing with daily demands from guardians and the pressures of a potential romantic partner. It’s not especially original material from Gray, who seems to be taking moves from the remarkable pop culture endurance of 1993’s “The Sandlot,” hoping to tap into the wonders of life and the feistiness of friendship. There’s earnestness to the feature that’s appealing, as Gray sets out to make a family film that hopes to impart a few messages on the value of persistence and bravery. However, “American Summer” is also a pretty clumsy endeavor, wrestling with a confusing timeline and unadventurous screenwriting as it tries to burrow into viewer hearts. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com